Well pump operating equipment



May 6, 1941. T. w. MURRAY WELL PUMP OPERATING EQUIPMENT Filed April 9, 1940 Thomas Wa/lfer Murray,

Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMP OPERATING EQUIPMENT Thomas Walker Murray, Texarkana, Tex., as-

signor to Texarkana Manufacturing Corporation, Texarkana, Ark., a corporation of Arkansas Application April 9-, 1940,. serial No. 328,781

6 Claims.

i lit) This invention relates toequipment for operating well pumps and more particularly to equipment for operating a pumping-rod of a deep oil well pump.

Many oil wells, when completed, do not pro-* vide suflicient pressure to cause a natural flow of oil or well fluid to the surface of the earth.

These wells, therefore, require use of a pump.

In order that these well pumps may lift a substantial amount of oil or oil mixed with water, it is necessary to provide a relatively long stroke for the well pump plunger at the bottom of the well and a relatively long stroke for the sucker or pump rods.

low wells. This requirement for a longer stroke is due to the tendency of the pumping rods to stretch. It is found, for example, that where the pumping rods have a diameter between of an inch and of an inch, the stretch may be as much as 6 inches for each thousand feet of pumping rods. This stretch varies in accord.- ance with the size of the pumping rods or tubing,

the Weight of the liquid being lifted, and the.

pumping equipment which will provide efficient service with a relatively small power plant and with a minimum consumption of power.

Heretofore, oil well equipment has been relatively expensive, has required relatively large power plants, and has provided a relatively short working stroke for the pumping rods.

It is, therefore, an object of this. invention to provide improved oil well equipment, which is particularly adapted to meet the needs of deep well pumping operations.

Another object is to provide improved oil well pumping equipment which will function efficiently with a relatively small and inexpensive power plant or engine and which maybe used to provide a relatively long pumping rod stroke.

Another object is to provide oil well pumping equipment of improved construction and havin a counterbalance for the combined weight of the well sucker rods and the liquid being lifted thereby, so that in each Working stroke of the Deep wells require a longer stroke for the pumping rods than relatively shah automobile truck. The power plant sucker rods, the, power consumption need only 1 be sufficient to overcome frictional forces.

A still further object is to provide oil well pumping equipment which permits of its being .zreadily. modified to provide either a relatively long or short pumping stroke. A relatively long pumping: stroke is particularly necessary for deep well pumps due to the stretch of their pumping rods and for oil wells producing large quantities of water or other fluid.

Another object is to provide oil well pumping equipment which permits the length of the pumping stroke to be readily increased Without substantial increase in, power or fuel consumption.

A further object is to provide oil well pumping equipment which will operate deep well pumps as eficiently and economically as shallow Well pumps.

Another object is to provide oil well pumping equipment which will provide smooth, even operation of a Well pump and cause the pumping rods to travel as fast on the upstroke as on the downstroke. The present invention avoids jerking action at the top and bottom limits of each pumping stroke. Such jerking action, which is characteristic of conventional equipment, is objectionable since it frequently causes breakage of sucker or pumping rods and may damage the Well tubing. Accidents of this character are to be avoided as they may make it necessary to abandon a well.

Other objects and advantages will be clear from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing which is aperspective view of an embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the illustrated equipment comprises a power plant I, a clutch 2, a clutch pedal or operating lever 3, a transmission 4, and a gear shift lever 5, which are preferably connected for operation in the same manner as the corresponding parts of an ordinary I, for example, may be a conventional Ford V-8 motor complete with radiator, or may be some other type of conventional automobile or truck motor.

including a conventional universal joint 1 interposed between short drive shafts 8 and 9, and suitable gearing in the gear box III. The gearing in the gear box l may, for example, comprise reduction gearing. The power shaft 6 extends through the gear box it] and from opposite sides thereof.

To the opposite ends of the crank or power shaft 6 are secured cranks or crank arms |3 and hi. These crank arms |3 and I4, for a. purpose described hereinafter, extend from the shaft 3 in opposite directions. That is, the crank arms l3 and 4 rotate on the same or aligned axes, and the crank arm I3 is arranged at an angle of 180 relative to the crank arm M. The cranks l3 and M will maintain this angular relation during operation so that as one crank arm is traveling downwardly the othercrank arm will be traveling upwardly. If desired, crank wheels may be used in place of the crank arms |3 and I4. In this event,.the crank wheels would be relatively arranged to provide the same drive as the crank arms l3 and I4.

A pitman or connecting rod I5 is connected by a crank pin 5430 the crank arm I4, and a pitman or connecting rod I1 is similarly connected by a crank pin l8 to the crank arm |3.

The illustrated equipment also includes a shaft 25 mounted for oscillation in stationary bearings 26 and 21. Each of these bearings 26 and 21 may be supportedby a tripod 28.

VA set of Wheels 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are removably secured, as by means of keys, to the shaft 25. These wheels, as shown in the drawing, may be of similar size, that is .theirdiameters may all be of the same dimension. The

wheels 3| through 35 are preferably arranged in spaced relation relative to each other,'and the it wouldbe preferable to position the wheels 34 and 35 close to the bearings 21 and 26 respectively. The wheels 3| through 35 may each be in the form of a grooved pulley or sheave as illustrated in the drawing, in the form of a sprocket wheel, or in the form of. a segment of a sheave or sprocket wheel.

Each of these wheels 3| through 35 is provided with a flexible member, these flexible members being numbered 4|, 42, 43, 44 and 45 respectively. Each of these flexible means 4| through 45 may be in the form of a link chain,

' such asused formaking sprocket chains, or in the form of a wire cable, depending on whether the flexible member from being disengaged from the wheel rim. Each flexible member extends peripherally about its wheel from its clamped end to where it extends tangentially from the wheel rim. Each flexible member preferably is so connected to its respective wheel thatit extends nearly all the way around the wheel periphery when the wheel is reversingits direction of move- 'ment and about to rotate in the direction for unwinding the engaged portion of the flexible memher.

As the shaft 25 oscillates, the wheels 3| through 35 oscillate therewith and, in effect,

5 alternately wind up and unwind their respective flexible members (4| through 45).

The flexible members 42 and 43 serve as jack lines and are suitably secured to the pitmans l1 and 15 respectively. The jack lines 42 and 43 are trained over their Wheels 32 and 33 in opposite directions, so that the jack line 42 projects downwardly from its wheel 32 at one side of the shaft 25, and the jack line 43 projects downwardly from its wheel 33 at the opposite side of'the shaft 25.

' With the crank arms I3 and I4 operating in the described and illustrated relation, and the flexible members 42 and 43 associated with their respective wheels 32 and 33 as illustrated and described," the shaft 6 during operation drives the shaftzzfi in;both-directionsof oscillation of the latter .(shaft )1;; The crank arm |3 on its downstroke pulls onthe jack lines 42 to rotate all the wheels 3| through and the shaft 25 in one dizameflmr f rotat qn fi ha is anti-clockwise lookatiz er rgwin), w l at hes time the crankarmM is traveling upwardly andthe wheel in effect, winds ontoits periphery a longitu- .d all: portionpf the flexible means or jack line wheniheqf nk a m 1' n its upstroke, crank-arm I4 is traveling downwardly to operateits fiexible means 43 and drive the wheels directionQand thejwheeisz, in effect, Winds onto 35,.itsfperiphery a longitudinal portion of the flexible means l42frit w'll' r lafiandi |4"'a're effective to alternately pull or actuate" the jack lines42 and 43. As one crank arm is actuating its jack line, the other jack line "is being drawn'in the reverse direction by the wheeltdwhich it is secured. v

I'Tli flexible'mearis'or'pump line 4| is adapted to be clamped or otherwise secured to the upper end 50of a string of sucker .or pumping rods in well tubing'5l." The pump operating equipment is preferably so positioned that the straight porti0'r i[of the;li ne' 4| extends vertically from the jpumpingrod -'tothe periphery of the wheel 3|.

The'fiexible means 44' and 45 are counter- 50 balance lines and extend downwar'dly'from the peripheries of ftheirwheels 34,,and 35at the side ofgsnaft25 'op'posite; tomthat side at which the puiripline 4| .extends downwardly. These flexiblemeans44and45 are each provided with a plmality 'ofremovablediscs ,or weights 52 so as to counterbalance the total weight suspended by the ptunp l ine.jll including the weight of the isuckerrods.andjthe weight.of the liquid to be lifted in each workin stroke of the. pump.

The gfi fi u he ump n oke maybe increased or decreasedby'replacing the wheel 3| withf a wheel of different diameter. This substitutiohfma'y befi'eadilyaccomplished as the i wheels '3l through '35 are each keyed to and 'detachable from the shaft 25. If'it is' not desirable to change the counterweight's 52', the wheels 34 and :35 "ma; be replaced bywheels having the "same 'tdiamter as the wheel-replacing the wheel 3|: 'Asianiralternative to replacing the wheels 34 a'nd:35,' the jcounterbalance weights 52 may be qchangedijin; accordance with the gear ratio begtweengthe qwheels 34 nd 3 5 and" the wheel replacingthe;wheel 3|; 'In either-case, it is prefj: erable to counterbalance the weight of both the suckers rods and the liquid being lifted, so, that the thus be seen that the cranks pumping operation on the upstroke of the pumping rods requires a minimum amount of power. It will thus be clear that the pumping stroke may be increased without requiring an increase in power, the replacement of wheels 32 and 33 by wheels of different diameter, or adjustment of the crank pins I 6 and I8.

Conventional pumping equipment requires an increase of power when its pumping stroke is increased above 36 inches. The required increase in power is about 2 horsepower for each additional inch above a 36 inch stroke.

The length of the pumpin stroke may also be changed by adjusting crank pins IE and I8 toward or away from the crank shaft 6. To permit of this adjustment, each of the cranks l3 and I4 is provided with a plurality of spaced crank pin receiving apertures.

The illustrated equipment may be modified by shifting the crank pins l5 and I8 along their cranks l3 and M to apertures closer to the crank shaft 6, and by replacing the wheels 32 and 33 with wheels of smaller diameter. In this way, a shorter stroke of the crank pins I6 and I8 may be secured without changing the length of stroke of the wheel 3|.

In the appended claims, the term crank is used broadly to cover both crank arms and crank wheels; the expression cranks arranged at an angle of 180 relative to each other covers crank wheels with their respective crank pins on radial lines disposed at an angle of 180 relative to each other; the term wheel is used to cover a sprocket wheel, a sheave, and a section of a sprocket wheel or sheave; and the terms flexible means and cable are used to include such elements as a link chain or a wire cable serving the function and purpose of the flexible means illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The above described equipment including the tripods 28 may be suitably mounted on skids 55, whereby the complete assembly may be readily slid along a derrick floor when being positioned for use or when being removed from a well. If desired, the skids 55 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the derrick floor during pumping operations.

The foregoing is illustrative, and it will be understood that this invention includes all modifications and embodiments covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In equipment for operating the pumping rod of a well, the combination comprising: a shaft supported in elevated position for oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis; a set of at least three wheels operatively and detachably secured to said shaft for oscillation therewith; a flexible means, such as a cable, associated with each of said three wheels; each of said three flexible means having a portion secured toits respective wheel, another portion depending from said wheel, and an intermediate portion trained over said wheel; the flexible means associated with the intermediate one of said three wheels being a pumping line and having its depending portion adapted for attachment to a pumping rod in a well; the other two of said three flexible means having their depending portions adapted to support means for counterbalancing the weight of said pumping rod and its load in a working stroke thereof; and other means for driving said shaft in both directions of its oscillatory movement.

2. In equipment as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of wheels comprises five wheels, and the means for driving said shaft comprises means for alternately driving the fourth and fifth wheels to provide a drive for said shaft in both directions of its oscillatory movement.

3. In equipment for operating the pumping rod of a well, the combination comprising: a shaft supported in elevated position for oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis; a set of wheels operatively secured to said shaft for oscillation therewith; flexible means, such as a cable, associated with each of said wheels; each flexible means being attached to its respective wheel, being trained thereover, and having an end portion extending tangentially from its wheel, whereby each flexible means has a portion thereof wound on the respective wheel during movement thereof in one direction of oscillation and unwound during movement of the wheel in the other direction; two of said flexible means being jack lines and trained in opposite directions over their respective wheels; means for alternately operating said jack lines to drive said shaft in both directions of its oscillatory movement; a third of said flexible means extending vertically and downwardly from its respective wheel for operative connection with a well pumping rod, whereby the pumping rod is lifted during operation of said shaft in one direction of its oscillatory movement and is lowered by force of gravity during operation of said shaft in the other direction of its oscillatory movement; and means so supported by and associated with said shaft as to counterbalance at least the weight of said pumping rod during its reciprocatory movement.

4. Equipment as recited in claim 3, wherein the operating means for each of the jack lines comprises a crank and the two cranks are so relatively arranged and driven as to operate the jack lines in alternation.

5. In equipment for operating the pumping rod of a well, the combination comprising: a shaft supported for oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis; a set of wheels secured to said shaft for oscillation therewith; and flexible means, such as a cable, secured to each of said wheels; each of said flexible means being trained over and secured adjacent one end thereof to its respective wheel; two of said flexible means being jack lines and being trained over their respective wheels in opposite directions, whereby said jack lines are adapted to alternate in driving said shaft to oscillate the same, a third one of said flexible means being a pumping rod line and adapted for connection to a pumping rod to raise the same in one direction of oscillation of said shaft; two other of said flexible means carrying weight to counterbalance at least the weight of said pumping rod; the wheels provided with said weight carrying flexible means being arranged on said shaft at opposite sides of the wheel provided with said pumping rod line.

6. In equipment as recited in claim 5, a crank shaft, 2. set of two cranks carried by said crank shaft and extending therefrom in opposite directions, each crank being operatively connected to one of the jack lines, whereby said cranks during rotation of said crank shaft alternate in operating said oscillatory shaft to drive the same in both directions of its oscillatory movement.

THOMAS WALKER MURRAY. 

